Region unveils $35M wish list

Winning projects should be named by year's end

By Brian Nearing

Updated 11:58 am, Monday, August 18, 2014

Albany

In the latest statewide sweepstakes for $220 million in economic development cash, the Capital Region has offered up a wish list of 29 projects totalling nearly $35 million, featuring everything from a secure facility for federally classified technology to a cheese factory.

And the Capital Region Economic Development Council also is asking the state to commit a major portion of its federally allocated pool of low-interest, tax-exempt bonding to support a planned $300 million Castleton Paperboard mill project in Rensselaer County, according to a council report filed late Friday.

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The Capital Region is competing in the fourth round of development funding controlled by the Cuomo administration, which should select winning projects from among 10 regional councils by the end of the year.

The Capital Region covers eight counties, stretching from Columbia and Greene counties in the south to Warren and Washington counties in the north.

Others were modest, like a community loan fund for low-income residents in Schenectady ($375,000), expanded performance space at Proctors in Schenectady ($352,000), and a wireless Internet network in Troy ($154,000).

And some were mysterious, like a $3.5 million request from SUNY Polytechnic in Albany, formerly known as the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, to support a $17.5 million facility that meets federal military and intelligence standards to protect classified information.

A so-called "sensitive compartmented information facility," or SCIF, at SUNY Poly "will allow the U.S. government to take part in joint development of "classified technologies deemed highly sensitive to national security and competitiveness," according to the council report. "A SCIF allows billions of dollars in government agency program and defense contracts to be executed at (SUNY Poly), enabling (SUNY Poly) to expand the workforce."

Guidelines for such secure buildings are set by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.

The regional council also recommended another 35 lower-priority projects be considered for another $530 million in state funding that is already controlled by various state agencies.

"Guided by a strong strategic plan, we embraced additional areas of focus from the governor such as Global NY and the Veterans' Initiative," said a statement issued by regional council co-chairs James Barba, president of Albany Medical Center, and Robert Jones, president of the University at Albany. "The result is 65 priority projects that support multiple aspects of our agenda to ensure that the Tech Valley is advancing and solidifying its foundation for the future."

Other high priority projects included:

• $3 million toward a $20 million modernization of the Finch Paper mill in Glens Falls.

• $2.8 million to support a Troy waterfront farmers market as part of a $30 million development at the former City Hall site on the Hudson River.

• $1.7 million for a partnership headed by the SUNY Research Foundation for development and testing of high-technology weather detection equipment.

• $1.5 million for Albany Medical College to support a research alliance that can better attract federal and industry grants.

• $1.5 million for the expanded Argyle Cheese Factory.

• $1.3 million to support redevelopment of the blighted Robinson Block section of State Street in downtown Schenectady.

• $1 million to support expansion at the Port of Coeymans so it can "develop relationships with companies, such as General Electric, that have established import/export businesses and would benefit from the cost savings offered by barge transportation."